The Dodge brand has upped the ante in the fast-growing full-size sport-utility vehicle and crossover segments, with the introduction of the new 2014 Dodge Durango at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.

This new SUV is built on the Dodge brand’s pillars of performance, style and innovation, delivering a new standard state-of-the-art class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission that improves fuel economy up to nine percent, the Chrysler Group’s award-winning Uconnect Access easy-to-use touchscreen technologies and the Dodge brand’s signature racetrack LED tail lamps to driving enthusiasts in the market for a three-row family performance SUV.

The 2014 Durango SUV is available in SXT, Rallye, Limited, Citadel and R/T models. This model year, the engineers and designers at Dodge have made the ultimate “no compromise” SUV even better. The new “face” of the Durango is still distinctly Dodge and features a new, slimmer “split crosshair” grille with mesh textures unique to each trim level. The Durango’s sculpted hood and grille complete the unique to Dodge forward-leaning profile that continues through the deeply browed headlamps. The new front-end design features new projector fog lamps and fog lamp surrounds and matching crosshair grille texture. Combined with the taller front bumper, the new lower fascia gives the 2014 Durango SUV a wider and more aggressive look.

For a more monochromatic appearance, the Rallye and R/T models are equipped with dark-tinted headlamp bezels, body-color front and rear lower fascias, wheel flares, grille and sill moldings, all unique to the these packages. The R/T’s ride height has also been lowered by 20 mm, further enhancing its sporty appearance and driving dynamics.

The rear of the Durango receives the addition of the dramatic LED racetrack tail lamp design inspired by the Dodge Charger and Dart. Still immediately recognizable as a Durango, this latest evolution of the racetrack design features a new technology that blends the individual LEDs into one seamless looking ribbon of light. In total, there are 192 LEDs in the new tail lamp assembly that give Durango a presence on the street and make it instantly recognizable as a Dodge.

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Base power for the Durango is provided by a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine, while upmarket models are outfitted with the automaker’s legendary HEMI® 5.7L V-8 prime mover. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard for all models. All-wheel drive is an available option for both engines.

Durango’s rear-drive unibody structure is built with a selection of high-strength and ultra-high strength steels that improve driving dynamics by integrating the suspension with the body — reducing flex and weight when compared with body-on-frame designs. The short/long arm front suspension and isolated multi-link rear suspension features isolated front and rear cradles to deliver precise on-road handling and comfort. The four-wheel independent suspension, combined with the Durango’s nearly 50/50 weight distribution, transmits to a solid driving feel and fun-to-drive characteristics.

Aggressive shock and spring rates with large sway bars handle body roll in hard turning maneuvers. Electro-hydraulic power steering, unique caster and camber settings along with standard electronic stability control also contribute to maintain tire grip and vehicle stability.

Inside the passenger cabin, the new instrument panel features a redesigned center stack that houses the new 5-inch and 8.4-inch Uconnect touchscreens. Under these large, easy-to-use touchscreens are redundant button and knob controls for audio and climate functions. The bottom of the center stack houses a new media hub with an SD card slot, USB outlet and auxiliary jacks, as well as a storage bin.

The center console features a new segment-first rotary shifter for the standard eight-speed automatic that adds another level of refinement over the traditional gated automatic shifter. Manual shift functions have moved to paddle shifters on the back of the Durango’s new steering wheel. These paddle shifters are standard on all 2014 Dodge Durango models.

The instrument cluster has also been given the high-tech treatment and now includes a full-color 7-inch thin-film transistor (TFT) screen similar to the one found in the Dodge Dart. Standard on all models, this screen allows for drivers to customize more than 100 ways how information is presented.

Framing the new instrument cluster is a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with the previously mentioned standard paddle shifters. The buttons to control TFT driver information functions are now larger and illuminated to make them easier to operate. Buttons for Uconnect and phone access now reside along the bottom edge of the vertical spokes. As before, Durango’s popular audio controls are still found on the back of the upper steering wheel spokes.

A large lockable glove box has a viscous-dampened hinge, which helps it open and close smoothly. With standard seven-passenger seating and luxurious second-row captain’s chairs available on all models, the seats in the 2014 Durango can be converted to as many as 50 different configurations.